Terry Butcher has backed Inverness goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey to fill the void created by the injury to Ryan Esson.Caley Thistle want to end the season on a high and Tuffey was a late replacement for last Saturday's 1-0 win at Aberdeen after Esson suffered a groin injury in the warm-up. It looks like that injury will keep Tuffey in goal for tomorrow's game with St Johnstone and Sunday's with Hibs. This is not a worry for Butcher who said: "Ryan's going to be out for a couple of weeks. He's tweaked his adductor muscle quite badly. Jonny's had to bide his time, he's worked very hard and been a great team member. He's done very well for us whenever he's come into the side. He gets his chance. I know he'll take it and do well." The win over the Dons means Caley Thistle could go above the eighth-placed Dons with a win over Saints in their game in hand. The Perth side are themselves hoping to leap-frog Dundee United to go fourth. While Inverness' top six hopes are over, Butcher is adamant there is plenty to play for after the satisfaction of winning on Saturday. Butcher went on: "The boys have got the bit between their teeth now after last Saturday. I've been really pleased with them. We haven't quite got the points our play has deserved, but I felt on Saturday we did. It's the big countdown now - eight games to go until the end of the season, three before the split. There are a lot of points to be won, a lot of bonuses to be fought for and a lot of pride as well, because we want to climb the table and climb above teams above us. We know what's at stake for us. We want to finish the season off well." Butcher's side were seventh last season after five wins in their final six games. It is a run he is eager to emulate. He added: "It was a really good end to the season last year, got us to 53 points, got us to seventh and a similar run this year will catapult us up to who knows where - but it will definitely force us up the table." Caley Thistle are to play St Johnstone twice before the split - tomorrow night's game having been postponed from January - and Butcher is keen for a similar show by his players to the one which earned the points at Pittodrie. He added: "They worked their socks off. With that kind of attitude, that kind of work rate, that kind of desire, we're looking to get as many points as we can from the two games this week. We've got to play St Johnstone twice in 10 days. They are where they are on merit, because they've been absolutely first class this season. Steve Lomas has taken on board what Derek McInnes started, but he's taken it on to a new level. They're a difficult team to beat, a lot of experience and they've got good characters and good players that can play good football. We're going to have to be at our best."
Source: FOOTYMAD
